Rowlock



Jan. 17, 192s.

1,656,534 A. H. ROLLINS ROWLOCK Filed Feb. 26, 1925 yPatented Jan. 17, 1928.

UNITED `sri-tres 1.656,534 `lvn'ritrrr OFFICE.

ALBEN H. ROLLINS, F WALTI-IAM, MASSACHUSETTS.

nownocx.

Application filed February 26, 1925. Serial No. 11,725.

This invention relates to improvements in adjustable rowlocks. More particularly it relates to mounting means` which permit adjustment of the lock so that it aids the e oarsman yin keeping his oar in position to get the proper dip and maximum propulsion. Although the invention is applicable to any kind of row` boat, it is particularly adapted for those racing boats known as "lo shells.

i water or throws it up out `of the water,

causing in either event a serious disturbance to the smoothness of the stroke and some times throwing the oarsmaniout of the boat.

The invention provides mechanical means which, when properly adjusted, automatically sets the oar in correct position at the beginning of each stroke. f lt does this by providing means to compensate for variances inthe individual oar and Outrigger from a predetermined normal, so that the" bringing correct angle to the water.

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of the flat` loom of the oar to bear against the upright of the oarlock, which happens at the beginning of each stroke, will automatically set that particular blade at the It has already been recognized that the angle of the oar blade is in general fixed by the cooperation of the lat side of the loom with the back of the oarlock, and indeed, the llat'side of the loom is provided for this purpose; but i in spite of that oarsmen will occasionally i catch a crab, especially in periods of exhaustion and stress, as in a race. This is always occasioned by a wrong handling of the koar and is commonly ascribed to the oarsmans lack of skill or diminished strength to set the oar properly. f

The rowlocks are supported on outriggers at some distance from the gunwales; and in f" a perfect oar the flat spoon blade thereof is parallel to the flat side of the loom thereof which bears against the rear upright of the oarlock. lk have found that in some oars there is a perceptible twist between the `bla-dc and the place of Contact of its loom ywith the oarlock. Either for this cause, or because the back side of the oarlock may happen to be slightly inclined from its proper position of verticality, it may be exceptionally diiiicult for the oarsman to enter his bladeinto the water at a proper angle; and he basto hold it correct by sheer strength, in order to maintain a proper stroke in harmony with the others in the boat, instead of being able to apply all of his strength to the propulsion. Although this diliiculty has been recognized I am not aware that anyone has hitherto found a remedy. j j

It is an objectlof the invention to provide an adjustable mounting for the swivelled oarlock whereby its upright rear side may be set as exactly vertical as may be proper, and it is a feature of the invention that this adjustment is accomplished, within limits, by changing the position of only one 'ot its bearings, although when a considerable shifting becomes necessary both bearings may be changed to accommodate the abnormal setting. It isa further feature that the bearings themselves are such that when the back of the oarlock is set askew the surface contact of the bearing is the same as when the lock is vertical.

The objects of the invention and the features which characterize it are attained by providing a supportand one or more sliding members" which `together form one of the bearings of the oarlock. One member is preferably movable in fore and Vaft direc'- tion,.and another, which may rest upon the first, is movable in an outboard and inboard direction. These are under the oarlock, and the upper of them has a socket to receive a bearing ball on which the oarlock is seated and swivelled, there being a similar socket in the under side of the oarlock to receive the ball. The other bearing oftheswivel, at the top of the support, has an adjustable stud with a hemiespherical end, which seats in a socket on the top of the oarlock, and this stud can be locked in position by a suitable nut.

\ The drawing illustrates mounting 'which permits adjustment of the bottom bearing of the swivel in any horizontal direction. It isintended that the patent shall cover, by suitable expression in the appendedclaims, whatever features of patentabley novelty exist in the invention disclosed.

In the accompanying dra-wings: l

Figure l is a side elevation of arowlock embodying the present invention;

- Figure 2 isa rear end elevation of th same, mounted on the Outrigger;

, Figure 8 is a view like Figure l1, but with potions of the rowlock Shown in section; iiD. Y

Figure l' is" a section on line of Figure Referring to the drawings the rowloek as a whole comprises the swivelled stirrup or oarlock 10 and a` yoke 11 holding the two ends ot the swivel and hereinafter called the-biel; standard, which rises from the sill l2 oi" an Outrigger on which it is inountedwith its base 13 parallel to the side oi the boat and with its yoke toward the bow. The oarloclc is swivelledbetween thebase 13 and the top` le of the back standard, with its rear side 16 haviiig-r` spherical socket bearings at top and bottom. The bottoni-and other side ot the oai-lock together with a hinged gatey 17 at its top, complete the enclosure around ihelooui 1S of an oar. One side 18 ot' this loom is dat l'oi' bearing against the rear side 16 of the oiirloek, and when these twd are flat tgetlierthe blade ot" the oar should be in position "to enter the water at a proper angle. It; however,` there is a twist inthe oar between the blade and the oarleckerill theout` rigger is somewhatout oi position, then `the oarsrnan `has to "try to hold the oar so as to Ineke its angle right. v The present invention relieves him of this difficultyr and makes his oar automaticallyeome right.V

The base 13 of thebaclt standard is provided with edge guideslf.) alonzd'whieh can move a \slid`e`20, whose lower edges extend alittle below the base 13 of the back stand-- ardand reston the sill 12. In the base 13 is `lin oblong slot 2l htiving inclined side walls which serve as seats for the tapered square head of a bolt 22 thatpassesdown from this slot 21 through holes in the sill 12 and through a brace 23 outstandinfrom the side of the boat. When `its nut`22 is tightened the bolt clamps firmly together "the" slide 20,

the back standard 11, the sill`12, and the brace u.5. `Another b`olt-26 at the i'or' ard end of the standard is keyed thereto as at 27, and passes.throughA another holein the sill and through yanother brace 28, to form a second clamp. The slot 21 permits the bolt 22 to be so positioned as tti-accommodate variations in the locations oitthe holes toundin the"sills. `In the top ol'i the slide 2O is `another guideway, extending erossn'iseyin which there isa second slidingl 'nienilm' 2) whose movement is inward or outward away from the side of the boat. normally` clamped to the bottoni slide by screws 30.

On this second slide is provided a spherical seat orsocliet in which rests a bearing ball 31 and on this rests the lower .spherical socket 32 oi the oarlck. Its upper spherical socket 33, receives the head'of a` stud 34C which passes down throughithe top lfiof the back standard and is locked in'position-by a By ioasening 'als tous es alla ee uit Srid- This top slide is' :moved `forward or aft as desired to vary the position of the lower end oit' the back of the oarl'oclt, the top stud let and spherical soeltet serving1 as a universal joint about which the oarlock is tilted and about which it eau afterward swivel in the rowingr action, notwithstandiiur that it has been tilted. ll' the slide is moved sullicientlir lar to make undue play in the bearings the stud can be turned dmvnward `enough to take up this loos a less. Thus the top stud constitutes a ball bearing adjustable in position. The other slide ineinber 29` can be moved inward or oiitlward on the first member,` to alter the position of the luittoni end ot the baci-:side ot' "the oarlorli toward oi' `from the side of' the boatgand because of the spherieal top and bottom en- Inagements it nevertheless can swivel easily. Thus b v suitable movement of both side niembers the position of the oarloek haelt cau be arranged exactly vertical or at suchangzle as will niahethe blade of the oar entertlie water properly even' though the bac-lc standard is not plumb, or if the shaft ofthe oai' is twisted. dien the oarlock has "thusjbeen properlT positioned the small screws 30 and the bolts 22 and 26 are tightened to clamp the two slidesthelback- `standard and the sill tightly together. lVhen the oar is placed within theoarloek7 the top gate 17, pivotallyY hinged at the top ol rear side oiithe oa'rloek, is swung over into a slot in the upper end ol the 'lront side ot the oiirlock. Al2`on theigate, one ot which,` 4(l,`is ltnurlell Jfor hand turning,` and the other of whieh constitutes a movable irni supporton `the grate, against which the nut l0 can iii-nity elainp the top of the front of the oarloeli. constitute jaws orolaniping the gate to this iront side. y

I claim as 'my invention:

1. A 1o`wlo`ck comprising a haelt standard; an oarlo'ek, having a socket; a stud mounted niovably on the back standard to shift the axis ot the stud relative to the standard and having' a spherieally surfaced endenffagting in said socket and means to lock said stud in positioiron said standard.

2. il rowloek adapted 'to be :rttaelled ld a sill on a boat, l'i'avingr `a haelt staiulard and a member movable with respect thereto;- a, swivclled` oarloi-h mounted lnlireiiu the si ii 1n lard andsaid movable nieniber;und melius `for clamping thesalid member, staiulard luid sill together. d p

3. A roivloirk comprising a back stdiidurd, a swivelled oai-lock, abearing member between th'ein movable both in" ore and" :litt

direction and in outboard and inboard direction; and means securing the member uand 'back standard togetlier.

d LA remuer *adapted to "esipn a sin on a boat, comprising a back standard secured tosaid sill; a bearing "slide movableonsaid su 'for edjusimniwithrespctio the" tiene.

Two nuts llli;

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lill) ard; a swivclled oarlock mounted between said slide and the standard; and means to clamp the slide and sill together.

5. A rowlocl adapted to be attached to a sill on a boat, comprising a back standard fixed on the sill, and a swivelled oarlock having one end fixed rotatably on the standard and its other end movable to and tixable rotatably in various positions on the sill.

6. A rowlock adapted to be attached to a sill on a boat comprisingv a back standard, and means for fastening said standard to said sill including a clamping member movablewith respect to said standard.

7. A rowlocl; adapted to be attached to a sill on a boat comprising a back standard, and means for fastening said standard to said sill including a clamping member fixed on said standard and another clamping member movable to and ixable in various posiii tions with respect to said standard.

8. A rowlock adapted to be attached to a sill on a boat-comprising a back standard having a slot in its base, and means extending through said slot and movable therealong in various positions, adapted to clamp said standard and sill together.

Signed at Boston, Massachusetts, this l twenty-fourth day of February, 1925,

ALBEN H. ROLLINS.

CERFCATE GE CORREG'EGN.

Patent 656 534. Granted January i7, 1928, to

ALBEN H. RLLINS.

it s aerey eetec *met error appears in the printed specification of the above mambeed potent requiring correction as follows: Page 2, line 118, caim 2, beoe the word. "means" insert the words "mit astenng"; and that the sed Lettere .wat-em: shmad be read with this correction therein that the some @uniform to the reeod of the oase in the Patent Office.

Signed @ed .sealed this Ziet day of Febuary, A. D.. i928.

M. J. Moore, Seal. Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

